A study on land use land cover changes in the catchment areas of Meghadrigedda Reservoir Gambhiramgedda Reservoir Mudsarlova reservoir and Kambalakonda lake in Visakhapatnam city using Geo spatial Technology

Abstract

newline ABSTRACT newlineWater is a dynamic natural resource, which forms the basis of all forms of newlinelife and is a pivotal resource in all economic activities ranging from agriculture to newlinemulti-sector industry. Freshwater is the most essential resource for life on the newlineplanet earth. Human civilizations flourished on the banks of rivers, where there newlinewas clean supply of water. Fresh water is a critical, finite, vulnerable and newlinerenewable resource on the earth; without it, life is impossible. Since the beginning newlineof the industrial revolution, increasing human population, economic activities as newlinewell as shortcomings in their management have resulted in pumping out more newlinequantities of pollutants into water bodies. newlineThe population explosion, urbanization, migration and industrialization are newlinecreating a tremendous pressure on existing water bodies. The present study newlinepertains to assessment of land use/land cover changes during a decade period newlinefrom 2005-2006 to 2015-2016 in the catchment areas of water bodies, newlineMeghadrigedda Reservoir, Mudsarlova Reservoir, Gambhiramgedda Reservoir, newlineand Kambalakonda Lake in Visakhapatnam City using GIS Technology. Rainfall and newlineobserved runoff for the study area have been discussed. Analysis between rainfall newlineand runoff was estimated with fully distributed approach. Validation of the results newlinethrough statistical analysis has been carried out and presented year-wise. GIS newlinemodel suggesting alternate land use patterns for integrated water management newlinepractices have been presented. The present study brings out the potential of newlinegeospatial techniques in LULC changes, drainage patterns, soil types and rainfallrunoffs newlinewere newlinedescribed newlinein newlinedetail. newline newlineThe newline newlinewater bodies Meghadrigedda reservoir, Mudsarlova reservoir, newlineGambhiramgedda reservoir are serving as major water supply sources for newlineVisakhapatnam city. Urbanization and population growth have greatly impacted newlinethe water bodies in this city and the detected changes are visibly shown in the newlinestudy. The Kambalakonda Lake body located in the Wildlife Sanctuary (Reserve newlineFor